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Further Workplace Health and Safety bosses will be grilled at the inquest into the Dreamworld disaster today, after a leading inspector admitted he had "no confidence" in the emergency procedures in place on the Thunder River Rapids ride.

Rumours of North Korean coup grow as Kim Jong-un disappears

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has seemingly disappeared with no public sightings of the leader in more than a month prompting speculation he may be under house arrest or seriously ill.

The 31-year-old despot was last seen in public at a concert in Pyongyang on September 3, one of his regular public appearances since taking control of the country.

While there have been steady rumours of everything from bad health to a palace coup in recent weeks experts say the appearance of three top North Korean leaders in South Korea on Saturday could signify a shift in power.

Kim Jong-un (AAP) (AAP)

"We're not sure where he is, or what's happening. We don't know whether he's in the hospital or whether he's been put under house arrest," Remco Breuker, professor of Korean studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands, told the ABC.

"No matter who is in charge nominally, the North Korean system remains the same.

"Kim Jong-un's never been in charge, it's the people behind him. The old friends of his fathers. Those are the people in charge."

Among the delegation attending the Asian Games closing ceremony was Hwang Pyong-so, a member of North Korea's Organisation of Guidance Department which some see as a rival power base to Jong-Un.

Hwang Pyong-so (left) at the closing ceremony of the Asian Games earlier this week. (AFP) (Getty)

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Kim Jong-un has missed a number of high profile national events including celebrations for the founding day of the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea and a legislative session of the Supreme People's Assembly last month, the Guardian reports.

Yesterday he was absent from a meeting to mark the 17th anniversary of Kim Jong-il’s election as general secretary of the ruling party.

Observers have offered numerous explanations for the dictator's disappearance, with some noting he appeared to be limping at an event marking the 20th anniversary of his grandfather in July (see the video above).

North Korean state media said Mr Kim was suffering from "discomfort" but did not elaborate further.

According to the Guardian, it is widely accepted in diplomatic circles that Kim is now receiving medical treatment in one of the family's well-appointed villas.

Others have speculated the North Korean leader's absence is a deliberate attempt to confuse the west by projecting "confusion and chaos".

"[That is] exactly what North Korea wants since it increases the risk profile of the country," Asia Pacific Global Research GroupCEO Jasper Kim told the ABC, noting it increases the rogue state's bargaining power.